Published by Free Radio Berkeley and the Free Communications Coalition
TO CONTACT US:
email: frbspd@crl.com
voicemail: (510) 464-3041
snailmail: Free Radio Berkeley, 1442 A Walnut St. #406, Berkeley, CA 94709
ftpsite: crl.com - directory: ftp/users/ro/frbspd
May/June 1994 Page numbers approximate, use word search
Press release of planned activities . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Micropower Broadcasting The Free Speech Movement Of The 90's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Take Back The Airwaves - The Spring & Summer Offensive . . 5 San Francisco Liberation Radio To Take Free Speech Stand. .7 Jolly Roger Theatre Skewers The Policitical Elite . . . . .8 Fcc Pulls Plug On Bootleg Radio Station In Broadview . . . 8 Radio Kaos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5...4...3...2...1...Anarchy! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Fcc Issues $17,500 Forfeiture To Pirate Broadcaster . . . 10 Andrew Yoder Responds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Micro Power Broadcasting, Technology For The People . . . 12 Kits & Accessories From Free Radio Berkeley . . . . . . . 13 5 Watt Transmitter Modification Improves Stability & Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Protect Your Equipment From Reversed Voltage Leads . . . .19 What To Do When The Fcc Knocks On Your Door . . . . . . . 19 Jello Biafra, Dead Kennedys, Mojo Nixon, Chill Eb & More. 21 Another Argument For Micorpower Broadcasting . . . . . . .22 Ralph Nader On Corporatism And Plutocracy . . . . . . . . 24 Ship Of Dreams, Fcc Destruction Of Boat Station Bound For Belize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supporters of Micropower Broadcasting:
We are enclosing the latest etext version of our May/June newsletter along with a special bulletin. Our FTP site on crl.com is in the process of being loaded with lots of info and technical files. The directory is ftp/users/ro/frbspd. By the 10th of May, all of our current designs, board layouts, schematics, etc should be there, please see that these get distributed and used.
Volunteers are needed in a number of areas: technical mentors are needed to help people build their kits and put their stations on the air; since we have been invited to take part in the Lollapalooza tour, we need folks to set up a literature and information table at all of the tour sites; technical design help is needed on further micropower designs in the area of TV units; general organizing in your community around the entire issue of micropower broadcasting, free speech, etc. - conducting public forums and workshops for example; fundraising, expenses are rising with the ever increasing reponse to micropower broadcasting; distribution of informational material, we just printed 5000 copies of an 8 page tabloid newspaper for the May/June newsletter. If you know of bookstores, community centers, etc where these can be distributed, please let us and we mail a packet of 50 or so to you for distribution; legal support - if you know of any attorneys who might be interested in helping out and providing local legal support, we will send them legal documents and briefs to bring them up to speed on this issue; and just the usual suppport and organizational work associated with these sort of endeavors.
If anyone on this distribution list has ordered a kit but has not received it, please let us know. When we first started out with this process last fall, a few orders went astray. Our order process is in pretty good shape right now. Their are some simple modifications that can be made to the 5 watt transmiter which will improve its stability and performance, see the newsletter for the details. One rather wonderful person, Dave Forbes finished out the PLL design and has got it working with the 5 watt transmitter. Board layout will go next week to the shop and should be back the week following. If all goes well, the PLL kit will be going out the first of June.
We have set the filters for around 108 Mhz, this was checked on a rather expensive spectrum analyzer from a friend's place of work. The second harmonic is knocked down by at least 50 db with this filter on a transmitter running at the low end of the band - 88.1. We will be supplying just this one frequency since it seems to work very well over the entire band. The above mentioned mod to the 5 watt transmitters reduces the harmonic content as well.
If you want to be removed from the distribution list, please let us know.
Thank you very much for your support and patience.
Stephen Dunifer
Doug Forbes
Richard Edmondson
Captain Fred
--------------------------------------------------
Beginning this week, SF Francisco Liberation Radio (93.7 FM) will be on the air, 5 days a week (m-f) from 8 PM to 10 PM from a fixed location. It is their intent to make a free speech challenge to the FCC and the corporate it represents. Some may want to flame them for taking such a risk, please don't. You have to understand that we are taking the position that what we are doing is legal and protected by the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, International Law and other related law, statutes and so forth. We are also political organizers with a lot experience in challenging the system. Considering the media attention we have received from merely being threatened with fines by the FCC, if they raid SF Liberation Radio and drag people and equipment off, I can guarantee the media response will be rather awesome.
We need your help, solidarity and support to ensure, in the event of raid, that as many people know about this as possible. We are asking you to take the following steps. If this does happen, we will post a press release on this newsgroup within 24 hours of the event. Please take this release and see that it gets distributed to your local media. Add some sort of statement of support and outrage of your own to it. If you can, organize some type of "Free Speech Support" action in front of your local federal building, FCC office or whatever other building in your city or town seems appropriate. We are asking that this action take place on the Saturday following the raid, if it does occur, so they all happen on the same day. Just call up your friends, make some signs with appropriate slogans, tell the the press where it will take place, make up flyers announcing the action and pass them out where they will do the most good. One person should be the media contact person. We will include some tips with the press release on dealing with the media. It is important to be familiar as possible with the issues, please see the current newsletter posted in the news group - alt.radio.pirate. Also urge people to call their local FCC office to voice their opinion about this as well.
Thank you very much for any support and solidarity you may put forth
------------------------------
RECLAIMING THE AIRWAVES
Published by Free Radio Berkeley and the Free Communications Coalition
May/June 1994
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO CONTACT US:
email: frbspd@crl.com
voicemail: (510) 464-3041
snailmail: Free Radio Berkeley, 1442 A Walnut St. #406, Berkeley, CA 94709
ftpsite: crl.com - directory: ftp/users/ro/frbspd
We welcome any and all submissions for the next newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the most defining threads of political. cultural and social history is freedom of expression. In almost any circumstance, the degree of overall freedom present is directly proportional to the degree of strictures placed upon freedom of expression and who controls or maintains the mediums of expression. Whether it was the underground resistance to the Star Chamber or the free speech fights of the Wobblies, the desire to communicate with one's feelings, ideas, thoughts, etc. has remained undiminished throughout history. Subject to licensure for the first 500 years of its existence, the printing press of Gutenberg's day has been transmuted into the micropower transmitters of the 1990's. With an agency, the FCC (Fostering Corporate Control), totally in the grip of media monopolies who number less than 30 but own over 50 percent of the media resources, we have reached an intolerable situation where the peoples' airwaves have been turned into an instrument of social control engendering crass consumerism, and obescient response to the crudest of political flim-flammery.
An owner of a printing press could have had his or her hand chopped off, or worse, for printing material considered to seditious or critical of the ruling elite. Although micropower broadcasters have not been subject to a similar fate, they are being threatened with huge fines ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 and, in some cases, their entire household has been ransacked by local FCC agents and police. Clearly, free speech and other constitutional rights are under a state of siege. With the current anti-crime hysteria and what passes for "public debate" in the hands of the corporate monopolies and their mouthpieces such as Rush Limbaugh, an aggressive campaign of taking back the airwaves is the only hope of creating democracy in this country. It is our intent and purpose to see thousands of transmitters taking to the air in an all out, no holds barred movement of electronic civil disobedience. When was the last you refereed to as a citizen and not a consumer by the media ?
One has to ask the question, what is the underlying premise behind who has rights to the airwaves which, like so many other natural resources, have been plundered and raped by the corporate interests who desire to line their pockets to the extreme detriment of the planet and all who reside on it ? Why should just a few be allowed to dominate what should be a resource of the many ? It is just the further diminishment of public space and resources which are fenced off and declared private property of the corporate elite. If the power levels were brought down to some reasonably sane limit, like 100-1000 watts on FM for example, many more people and communities could have a voice. Consider the cancer cluster risks alone from having megawatts of RF radiating from vertical antenna farms such as Sutro Tower in San Francisco.
If we are a country founded on democratic principles, with a government created to ensure and guarantee to all the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights along with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness why have we reached such an intolerable situation where any reasonable analysis will show the total lack of any democratic process. And why do we meet such fierce resistance when tried to exercise any of these rights, such the right to vote, to speak in public parks, or to receive a just and fair wage ? The question is, should the airwaves be used as a primary means of fostering a democratic, pluralistic, and vibrantly diverse society through a free and open exchange of ideas, news, information, art and culture or should they be a concession stand for narrow, anti-democratic corporate interests working hand in hand with a government whose main goal is domestic pacification, control and the maximization of private profit ? Who does the government really work for, the people or the plutocrats ? Of, by and for the people does not seem be an operative principle at this time.
Spectrum scarcity is largely the fault of the FCC. Take a look at your TV tuner. Notice all those vacant UHF channels. In most areas the UHF band is wide open. Yet, even though low power TV has been created as a legitimate category, the FCC has flatly refused to grant licenses in the 50 major urban areas where there is plenty of room on the UHF band. In 1980 the FCC forced many low wattage (10 watt) , class D FM stations to either increase their power to a minimum of 100 watts and adhere to tighter technical requirements or go off the air. This was done largely at the behest of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (another contradiction in terms), the agent orange of grassroots radio, who had been lobbying the FCC since the early 1970's as part of their drive to "professionalize community radio. It was the combined hope of both the FCC and the CPB to drive a number of stations off the air. What happened was that everyone scraped their pennies together and increased their power and operating budgets with a net result of crowding the spectrum more than before and having to rely more and more on bringing professional fund-raisers and managers on board to meet the larger budgetary requirements - thus began the slow death of real community radio in this country. Why does the FCC grant 90 mile fringe protection to many giant operators ? As stated above, bring down the power limit to a reasonable level, the broadcasters will scream. Let them, they have had 60 years to make an obscene amount of profit from the peoples' resource.
We are creating an alternative to the FCC, the Free Communications Coalition - the peoples' FCC. An umbrella organization which intends on helping ensure good technical standards and support for micropower broadcasting, basing itself on a community and grass roots volunteer model using mediation and open discussion to foster responsible micropower broadcasting. Further, it is working toward the full democratization of all means of communication whether it is electromagnetic space or cyberspace in conjunction with any & all groups or individuals who are working toward this common goal. We would like to see many of these issues addressed and resolved at the community level. We hope to create a talent and resource pool of individuals who can provide the necessary technical expertise whether it be legal, electronic, organizational, etc. to aid in establishing micropower broadcasting as a fully functioning entity whose purpose is to break the stranglehold on the free flow of information, ideas, news, culture and art.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We own the public airwaves. That's federal law, approved by the Supreme Court of the United States. We are the owners, we are the landlords. The Federal Communications Commission is our real estate agent. It licenses portions of the spectrum to corporate broadcasting TV and radio stations--they are the tenants.They pay nothing for the rent of a TV station. Some of the greatest fortunes in American history have been made by television and other electronic communication company executives- -tens of millions of dollars--using public property free of charge. The tenant pays the landlord nothing, decides who says what on radio and TV, and laughs all the way to the bank, and because we grow up corporate, we don't even *think* of challenging it because we never *heard* of it. We never reflected on it. Our courses never *talked* about it. We never majored in it. And therefore, we're anesthetized. It's a controlling process."
- Ralph Nader
---------------------------------------------------------------
I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.
--- Abraham Lincoln (quoted in Jack London's "The Iron Heel").
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the last few months the response to the whole issue of micropower broadcasting has taken off at an incredible level, the mailing list has doubled since the first of the year. Largely due to a number of rather good articles which have appeared in Mondo 2000, Option and Spin magazines. Micropower broadcasting has been invited to be part of the Lollapalooza tour this year. New designs are being worked to make it as easy as possible for people to reclaim the airwaves.
Unfortunately, this work can not continue without a response of support from you. We hope that you consider micropower broadcasting to be a vital and critical tool to restore some sort of democratic process to the world and break the stranglehold on the free flow of information, news, ideas, art and culture. Several of us have basically put a good portion of our lives on hold to make this happen. If this work is to continue we need not only financial donations but volunteer help as well. Whatever you can do would be most appreciated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Radio Berkeley / Free Communications Coalition
First, we would like to thank everyone for their support of micro power liberation broadcasting and their extreme degree of patience as we get our act together on ramping up for full scale production of kits.
FRB and the Peoples' FCC invite you to take part in reclaiming the airwaves. This can be done in many ways, it is not necessary for you and your community to put a station on the air if you feel that is too great of a risk. A lot of public education needs to happen around this issue so folks understand that is a matter of free speech, constituitional and human rights. We urge you to consider conducting public forums and presentations on this in your community. Printed materials, videos, etc. can be provided for this type of activity.
Further, if you are technically inclined and would like to provide assistance as a mentor to those whose technical abilities are vastly exceeded by their enthusiasm, we would like to hear from so we can refer folks needing assistance to someone in their area.
If your are good at teaching and presenting technical matters in an understable manner, please consider leading a workhsop in your community. We can supply materials for this including a how to video that is in production.
We need any information on what happening in your community as it regards micro power broadcasting, especially regarding any actions taken by the FCC.
Micro power broadcasting will be part of the Lolapalooza tour this summer. A transmitter will accompying some foks who are part of the tour and we have been invited to have a table at each concert site. If you live anywhere close to the concert sites (most major urban areas) and can volunteer to run an info table, pleaes contact us. We will see that passes are arranged and send you the materials to be distributed along with materials you might wish to add. That would be a good time to organize a local meeting/public forum or workshop on micro power broadcasting and reclaiming the airwaves. All in all, the Lolapalooza tour was attended by 2 million people last year, a great opportunity for outreach.
Let us know if there is any way we can help you, many of us here are rather experienced community activists and organizers. We have legal support available through the National Lawyers Guild and can send legal info to supportive attorneys in your area to bring them up to speed on this issue.
If you can, come to the Bay Area for the weeekend of April 30 and May 1 and the following week. On Saturday, April 30 Food Not Bombs is putting on Soupstock 94 with lots of good bands including MDC, Mudwimmin, Clan Dyken, etc. It will be held at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell near the DeYoung Museum and starts at 12 noon. San Francisco Liberation Radio will be broadcasting it live at 93.7 FM with a possible higher power AM simulcast. On Sunday, May 1 the 25th anniversary of Peoples' Park will be celebrated with a big party and concert at Peoples' Park in Berkeley. This event will be broadcast live by Free Radio Berkeley at 88.1 FM. A whole series of workshops on media, computers, broadcasting, etc. will be held that week in both SF and Berkeley. A public forum on micro power broadcasting and radical art will be held on Thursday evening, May 5 at the Capp Street Gallery in SF. A micropower broadcasting workshop will held on Wednesday, May 4 in Berkeley and on Saturday, May 6 at the Capp Street Gallery in SF.
More articles are coming out on mirco power broadcasting. The most recent issue of Option had a very good article. The May issue of Spin will feature an article as well. It is possible that Rolling Stone might be interested in this issue. Hopefully, you can get the local media in your area to do the same.
Richard Edmondson with San Francisco Liberation Radio and Food Not Bombs Radio Network is now producing a weekly show for Radio For Peace International, a shortwave station operating from Costa Rica. It is a half hour show on the best of micro power broadcasting in the US with segments from air tapes of various stations that are currently on the air. If you are on the air send us air tapes so they can be incorporated into the show.
We are setting up to record program materials onto hard disk with a DSP card in one our PCs. These will be compressed with a program from Xing and loaded into our FTP site for distribution. This will begin on May 1. If you are interested in this project, let us know
We have decided to make a major push for next 6 months to create a national movement to take back the airwaves and break the coporate/government stranglehold on the free flow and exchange of ideas, information, news, music, culture and artistic expression. If we do this in an organized, concerted way we can take back the airwaves and show what real democracy is all about. It involves taking risks and a lot of hard work but if worth the effort if one values free speech, human rights, liberty and self determination.
Thanks again.
Stephen Dunifer
Doug Forbes
Richard Edmondson
Keith McHenry
Captain Fred
JS
Universal Radio
and many others who wish to remain unknown at this time
Contact:
Free Radio Berkeley / Free Communications Coalition
1442 A Walnut St. #406
Berkeley, CA
94709
(510) 464-3041 - voice mail
email - frbspd@crl.com
ftp site: crl.com - directory: /ftp/users/ro/frbspd
Send us any program material you might have.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco Liberation Radio, in a bold move placing free speech on the line, will begin on May 2 broadcasting five nights per week from a fixed location.
"It's risky," admittede SFLR's Richard Edmondson. "If the FCC wants to find us they will be able to do so fairly easily."
He added, however, that the problems inherent in constantly moving the station from place to place, broadcasting in concealment, setting up and breaking down by flashlight--all were considerations driving him and other SFLR members to make the decision they did.
"At the new location we'll be powered by electricity rather than batteries, giving our broadcasts more regularity, reliability, and, with the expanded hours, greater listnership," he said.
The new broadcast schedule, the commencement of which will coincide with SFLR's first anniversary, will be Mon-Fri from 8-10 pm--if the station survives.
"Our lawyers tell us it's a very real possibility that we'll be arrested and that our equipment will be seized," he said, adding that in such an eveutuality SFLR will call for a demonstration at 5 pm the following day in front of the San Francisco federal building.
"We're encouraging everyone who values free speech to come out and support us when and if the clampdown comes," Edmondson said.
The government's assault on San Francisco Liberation Radio began last year when Edmondson received notice from the FCC that he was being fined $10,000 for an alleged illegal broadcast on the night of Sept. 22. Since then the station has been on the air two nights a week unhindered.
But what begins on May 2 will be a strong departure from the clandestine guerilla broadcasts of before.
"Beginning on May 2 we'll be more above ground. We'll even have a live phone line for listners to call into--so that's how easy it will be for the government to track us down should they want to," Edmondson said.
"I can't say enough about how important it is for people to come out in the streets and support us should the government shut down the station. If they're paying workers in Haiti fourteen cents an hour, how much longer do you think it will be before that's what they're paying workers in this country? We have to make a stand now--or we may as well resign ourselves to watching our situation grow more and more desperate with each year that goes by."
The path being taken by SFLR is actually one that has already been blazed by two Black Liberation stations in the state of Illinois.
"Mbanna Kantako and Napoleon Williams are the real precedent setters here, and we are very inspired by what they have been able to do," Edmondson said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Political satire is the weapon of the day--or at least the weapon of choice of the Jolly Roger Comedy Troupe, whose skits can now be heard on Free Radio Berkeley and San Francisco Liberation Radio.
And who are the Troupe's victims? Anyone from Frank Jordan to the International Olympic Committee.
Imagine Frank Jordan and Jordan top advisor Jim Wunderman clad as hunters and standing on San Francisco city hall balcony taking pot shots at the homeless people on the streets below; or two mundane CBS sportscasters named Hank Hasbeen and Kathy Vapid broadcasting the "Immigrant Bashing Finals" at the winter olympics in Lillehammer.
With the Jolly Roger Comedy Troupe it's anything goes; no target is sacred.
And what happened when members of the University of California-Berkeley Police Department got caught by video camera watching movies in the campus film library when they were supposed to be out on patrol? Yep, you guessed it. The Troupe's skit writers got busy and produced "At the Movies with the U.C. Police," featuring two barely literate cops "reviewing" various current movies, including Geronimo ("another crybaby indian movie from Hollywood") a la Siskel and Ebert.
And who will be the next target of the Jolly Roger Comedy Troupe? Tune into San Francisco Liberation Radio and Free Radio Berkeley to find out.
----------------------------------------------------------------
(Associated Press) 4/4/94 Chicago Sun Times The message on the answering machine said, "Power Radio is off the air today because of an occurence of technical difficulties."
The technical dirriculty that shut down the bootleg FM station in Broadview was a raid by the Federal Communications Commission. Power Radio was operated by a 15-year-old boy with assistance from his father.
Friday's raid in the Chicago suburb was confirmed by Paul Gromoll, the electronics technician of the FCC's Midwest enforcement division office.
Pete Sinadinos had shared deejay duty with his dad for 2 1/2 years.
Sindinos and his father, jim, played oldies, dance, country and some heavy metal and featured a popular "stupid hour".
The station was "just for kids, to keep them off the streets, to keep them off drugs," Jinm Sinadinos said.
They say they did not know their broadcast, using a 5-watt transmitter bought through a flea market, was illegal.
The Riverside-Brookfield High School freshman said he made no attempt to evade authorities; he broadcast a phone number and post office box over the air.
Gomoll said the FCC shuts down three or four unlicensed radio stations around Chicago each year.
He said no charges have been filed against the Sinadinos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I finally got up enough courage to post an advertisement for our station. We are by no means a new station, we have been operating every weekend when possible all winter. New spring hours will be much more sporadic. If you are in the Des Moines area, "west-ish on the freeway" on a weekend night, and happen to like alternative music, listen to:
Radio KAOS, Des Moines ONLY Pirate radio station! 95.9Mhz, just one click above KGGO because we are just one click better! 9
6 KAOS, All NAKED, all the time.
Radio KAOS, if you can hear us, you are TOO DAMN CLOSE!
(this is of course an experiment to find out if the FCC actually investigates alleged pirate radio broadcasts, or if they monitor or have agents monitor this newsgroup. If anything happens to our lovely little 12,000mw StereO transmitter, you can be assured that I will let everyone who reads this newsgroup know. Later this summer we will be changing our setup, adding a 200 watt amplifier, 80 ft. tower, and a yagi beam pointing back to DSM!)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
by Captain Fred
We came on the air with a "plut plut plut" sound. It was not what I expected to hear. I started to notice things were not functioning properly. For starters, my CD player was spinning in the wrong direction...How could this be happening? The cassette deck kept turning itself off for no apparent reason, and I was starting to get a little panicky. Ralph had the good judgment to grab the marantz PMD 420. It saved the show for us. Finally, there was some music playing in my air monitor. The broadcast microphone was a small dictation tape deck set in "record" mode. The sound was rather tinny but audible. Our broadcast console was a small steel box with a four channel mixer inside. Some of the cables seemed sensitive to touch and would emit a low hum if touched in the wrong way. I found out later that shielding is very important for the audio connections. The control room was the passenger seat in my car and the antenna was a simple "j-pole" attached to an aluminum tripod stand. We played some music, a short interview with Norman Solomon, and a tribute to Orson Welles, with selections from his famous "War of the Worlds" broadcast. There were also shameless plugs for micro-power radio and Free Radio Berkeley. Keeping control of the audio level was a full time job for me, and Ralph fine-tuned the transmitter frequency with a tiny plastic screwdriver. I'm not sure how many people actually heard us that night, since there was no publicity announcing the broadcast. Considering it was a trial run, we were pleased. The sound coming from my walkman was clear and clean! On the next occasion we were better prepared, better cables, we had learned that arranging the equipment the wrong positioning could cause the TX to get a weird hum. Captain Fred had some great headphones and I was very impressed with the sound quality.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Report No. GN-154 March 11, 1994
GENERAL ACTION
The Commission has denied Andrew R. Yoder's Application for Review of the $17,500 forfeiture penalty issued by the Field Operations Bureau against him for repeatedly operating a broadcast station without an authorization in violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act.
Commission investigators monitored transmissions from the station which operated under the call sign "Radio USA" from various locations, eventually tracing the transmissions to the home of Mr. Yoder's parents in Springs, Pennsylvania. Mr. Yoder refused to allow the FCC investigators to inspect his radio station, another violation of Commission Rules.
The station and operator were positively identified by voice and close-in direction-finding techniques. The Commission rejected Mr. Yoder's arguments that the evidence was insufficent to establish that he was the operator of the station, and that he was not obligated to allow the FCC investigators to inspect his radio station.
Action by the Commission March 10, 1994, by Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 94-66). Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello and Barrett.
-FCC-
News Media contact: Audrey Spivack at (202) 632-5050; Pamera Hairston, Chief, Legal Branch, Field Operations Bureau, at (202) 632-7059.
Editor's note:
Why not call these fine folks and express your opinion about this. Autodial hack attack anyone ?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PO Box 109, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214 (717) 263-6109
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howdy!
Have you ever been harassed by the government? I have been accused by our Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of operating an unlicensed (pirate) radio station. I am contesting their fine. I believe that I might have been singled out as a result of my notoriety in the pirate listening scene. In fact, the FCC agent who came to my parents' house told me he read my column every month in one of the newsletters!
I have been fined $17,500-- nearly half of which was for not letting an agent in my parents' house at 3:00 AM who didn;t have a search warrant! More troubling aspects of the fine are that (1) they have no evidence, (2) the fine is 175 times greater than when the pirate WKND was caught in 1990 (WKND was caught a second time and had approximately $100 in equipment confiscated), (3) pirate radio is nonprofit and public service oriented. This fine is on par with being fined $17,500 for being within two blocks of a jaywalking incident.
To start my case, the FCC sent press releases to all of the media outlets in this area and to all of the radio-hobby publications. These press releases announced that I DID (without question) operate a pirate radio station and that these broadcasts could interfere with emergency communications (again, not true). Without a court case, these press releases were slanderous and they also damaged my right to a fair trial (an perhaps even prove myself to be not guilty) because I had already been pronounced guilty by the FCC and by the mass media.
In addition to being fined $7,500 for not letting someone who didn't have a search warrent into a house that wasn't mine, I was fined $10,000 for unlicensed operation. The trouble is that this fine is based on commercial rado stations who make thousands of dollars per day. Also, this new fin structure was instituted in April 1992--thus, I was fined under a structure that didn;t exist when my incident occurred! When my incident occurred, the minimum enforcement was a warning or loss of license, the maximum was a $2,500 fine (for a commercial station).
Although the FCC has allowed me to question the legalities of their actions in my case, they have not answerd any of my questions or lowered the fine (in spite of the obvious conflicts with our legal system). Yesterday, I received a bill from the FCC stating that I had 30 days to pay them $17,500 or it would be taken up by a debt collection agency. They did not even notify me of my right to a trial or court case! This is not lawful because they have not notified me of my right to due process (and attempted to mislead me) and because they do not have the power to collect fines.
At this point I'm getting desperate. The ACLU won't represent me because there is a disccepancy as to whether I am guilty or not. After months of playing telephone tag with the National Lawyer's Guild, I haven't come up with any assistance. In the meantime, the FCC is behaving much like an agency from some little totalitarian government. They only need to drag me ff to a jail and beat me for a few days to complete the process. At the pace with whitch they are breaking laws, that might just be next.
This case does have an affect on other aspects of radio operations. Of course beating the FCC in this case will cause more pirate radio stations to go on the air (both on FM and shortwave) because the FCC will no longer appear invincible. This could improve the quality of radio programming in communities across the United States. If I lose, on the other hand, it will be a strong case for the FCC to continue to destroy any sort of alternative broadcasting. The FCC's policy over the past 10 years has been to allow 1 corporation to own more stations than ever (making the mainstream bigger and driving small stations out of buisness) and to raise the minimum power levels of stations (to keep small organizations out of broadcasting). The next step for the FCC might be a major assault on college radio, which has already been damaged. The FCC will only stop when someone else stops them.
What can you do to stop the FCC? Please publicize this case in zines or wherever you can, support radio stations that air programming that you like, and support pirate radio stations. So, if you would like to contact pirate stations for interviews or if you have further questions for me, do not hesitate to write or call!
73's
Andrew Yoder
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does it take to put a micro power broadcasting operation on the air ? First off, less than $500. A basic 5 watt FM transmitter, output filter (very necessary to reduce output harmonics), 50 ohm coax cable (25-100 ft RG58, Mini8, RG8), antenna and power supply (battery or 12 volt regulated and filtered unit) is going to cost about $150-$175. This is assuming assembly of kit and antenna. Next, a VHF power meter ($30-$40), a dummy load (make from resistors or $19 at Radio Shack) and a frequency counter ($50-150) are needed for tuning and keeping things optimized. Beyond those requirements, one sort of audio source (line level -10 dbm, .3 volts) or another is needed to feed the transmitter. This source can be a walkman type cassette unit, a mixing board, tape deck, etc. Granted, this is not a professional studio but for low budget community operations, it does not take top end gear. Creativity and determination as shown by many community stations can certainly make up the difference. In total, a fully functional station can be put on the air for $500 or less.
Transmitter kits can be obtained from Free Radio Berkeley, contact us for a list of the kits. You need to have some experience in soldering and electronic assembly to do this properly. If you do not have this experience try to find someone who does. A 5 watt transmitter can be assembled in about 4-5 hours. Next you will a need a dummy load for testing and tuning. A power meter and frequency counter (a digitally tune radio will work) will be required as well. After tuning the transmitter to the frequency of choice, (pick a vacant channel) you will be ready to hook it up to an antenna.
A number of antenna designs are provided with the kit, most can be built rather easily with parts obtainable from your local hardware store or as a kit from Free Radio Berkeley. Further you will need a length of 50 ohm coaxial cable to connect the antenna to the transmitter, it needs to have PL259 connectors on both ends, these connect to SO239 sockets - one on the transmitter and the other on the antenna. If you are planning on running mobile, a magnetic mount 1/4 wave whip antenna will work very well. After connecting the antenna to the transmitter, it will need to be tuned. This is covered in the instructions that come with the antenna designs. Once this has been done, you will need to choose a location for the antenna, the higher the better.
If you are working from a fixed location, apartment building or whatever, it is best to disguise the antenna somewhat to throw off the FCC. Several of the antenna designs can be slipped down inside a piece of 6" or so black plastic pipe so it will look like a stand pipe on the roof. A single occupancy dwelling is the least safe since it is pretty obvious what is going on, a apartment building is better since their are a number of possible locations for the transmitter.
Most of the antenna designs are portable enough to be carried to a high site. Lengths of 1 1/2" electrical conduit securely joined together will get the antenna 20 feet or so into the air. Many of the antenna designs need to be isolated from the metal mast . The antenna can attached first to a piece of 1 1/2" plastic pipe which is then clamped to the metal mast with radiator hose clamps of the proper diameter. A four foot piece of 1/2" pipe driven into the ground with the 1/12" mast slipped over it will anchor things rather well.
Once your are ready to go on the air, the really hard part starts - creating a programming mix that will attract and build a listening audience. This involves a lot of work, doing street interviews, taping programs, gathering information, etc. Also, you have avoid the FCC. If you are lucky enough to live several hundred miles or more from the nearest field office, then the likelihood of them showing up is somewhat is minimized as long as you do not step on other folk's frequencies. Be on the lookout for a car or Chevy Suburban type vehicle driving around the neighborhood rather slowly. They have an antenna array buried in a false plastic roof of the vehicle and a whole rack of gear to go with it. Triangulation is a thing of the past.
We would like to find other engineers and technically inclined people to help increase these efforts since we are a rather small design and development operation. Further, we need such technically inclined people to act as advisors and facilitators in the process of helping people build, test, tune, and setup their transmitters and antennas. That way, we can create a pool of people across the country and world who will be available to lend a technical hand to those who wish put micro power broadcasting operations on the air.
Free Radio Berkeley has a lot of information available, please contact us if you would like to receive our newsletter or have any particular needs. The newsletter contains a list of the kits we have currently available. A legal guide on dealing with the FCC is provided as well.
Let a thousand transmitters bloom !
Stephen Dunifer
Free Radio Berkeley / Free Communications Coalition - the People's FCC
1404 A Walnut St. #406
Berkeley, CA 94709
voice mail: (510) 464-3041
email: frbspd@crl.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, a word from our legal department:
For educational purposes only. These kits are offered for the furtherance of one's knowledge regarding radio frequency design and principles. At all times during operation the assembled unit must be connected to a dummy load. Part 15 of the FCC rules prohibits an antenna being used with these units. All responsibilities for the ultimate use of these kits are born solely by the builder and/or operator.
KITS AVAILABLE NOW !
All kits are complete and come with professionally manufactured, drilled and tinned PC boards. All coils are pre-wound. Each unit, unless specified, requires 12 volts for proper operation. Full instructions and diagrams included. Required tools include a 25-30 watt soldering iron with a fine tip, diagonal cutters, needle nose pliers, assorted screwdrivers and other small hand tools. Full assembly diagrams and instructions are included with each kit. Antenna construction diagrams are provided with each transmitter or amplifier order.
Certain kits are designed to work with each other. For those whose wish to boost the output of their Ramsey FM-10 the 1/2-1 watt amp will work very well for this purpose. The 30 watt amp is designed to be driven by 3-5 watts and works extremely well with the 5 watt transmitter. The 15 watt amplifier is designed to be driven to full power with about 1/2 watt of input power, hence it works very well with the 1/2 watt stereo transmitter. If you wish to only boost a 1/2 watt signal to 5-7 watts then choose the 6 watt amplifier kit. An amplifier only increases the output power of a given input signal, it can not produce an FM signal whereas a transmitter or an exciter creates the FM signal at a suitable power level for possible further amplification by an RF amplifier.
5 Watt FM Transmitter - $55
An improved version of the Panaxis 5 watt design with a much more rugged output transistor capable of producing 5-6 watts. This is a very good basic unit that is very compact, fits into a 4 x 6 inch enclosure (available punched and drilled). Frequency stability is maintained by a well designed oscillator section. It is a mono unit that accepts line level input (i.e. an audio signal from a tape deck, mixer, etc.). A fine frequency adjustment control allows for easy adjustment of operating frequency. To increase power of this transmitter use the 30 watt amplifier. Both will fit into a 7 x 7 inch enclosure (available punched and drilled). Requires 12 to 14 volts DC at 3/4 to 1 amp for operation.
6 watt RF Amplifier - $30
Uses the same output transistor as above. It is designed to boost low wattage transmitters to a bit higher output power and will produce up to 8 watts of output power. A very small and compact circuit measuring 3 x 1 1/2 inches for 1/2 watt input drive. Easy, quick assembly. Requires 12-14 volts DC at 3/4 to 1 amp for operation.
15 watt RF Amplifier - $50
Uses a very high gain (14dB, power gain of at least 25X) RF transistor to boost a 1/2 watt input to 15 watts. Perfect for boosting the 1/2 stereo transmitter to 15 watts. Measures 2 1/2 by 5 inches and fits into a 4 x 6 enclosure (available punched and drilled). Includes heat sink. Easy, point to point surface mount assembly. Requires 12-14 volts at 2 amps for operation.
20 -24 watt RF amplifier - $95
$95 might sound a bit steep, but for those who do not wish to do an extensive amount of soldering and tuning, this is kit is for you. It uses a broad band high gain, RF power module which will put out a 20-24 watt signal for only a 100 to 200 miliwatt input. Kit requires less than 20 solder connections to complete, including a 5 element filter. Since the module is broad band from 88 to 108 MHz no tuning is required, plug and play as they say. Requires 12-14 volts at 3 to 4 amps.
25-30 watt RF Amplifier - $60
Will produce full power with an input drive of 3-5 watts. This unit works very well with the 5 watt transmitter kit. In fact, next to the 5 watt kit, it is our most popular item. Fits a 4 x 6 inch enclosure (available punched and drilled). Easy point to point surface mount assembly. Includes heat sink. Requires 12-14 volts DC at 4-5 amps for operation.
1/2 to 1 watt Amplifier - $25
1/2 to 1 watt output for an input power of 10 mw. Great for boosting lower power VFOs and low power Ramsey FM-10 type kits. Very compact size, 3 1/2 X 1 1/2 inches. An optional transistor can be substituted to take the power up to 1 1/2 watts, add $5 for this option.
Output Filter Kit - $8.00
A seven element low pass filter, composed of 4 coils and 3 capacitors, to flatten those harmonics. Specify cutoff frequency desired, 94 MHz, 100 MHz, 104 MHz, 108 MHz. The cutoff should be about 2 to 4 MHz above the frequency the transmitter is set for. Please use a filter on any transmitter you to use to avoid possible interference with other services.
15 Watt Dummy Load Kit - $10.00
Essential for tuning up and testing transmitters and amplifiers. Will handle 15 watts without any strain, higher powers for a briefer period of time (i.e. shut down when it gets rather hot). Presents a uniform 50 ohm impedance to the transmitter.
25 Watt Dummy Load Kit - $20
As above, use this with the 30 watt kit for testing and loading purposes. Uses a single, film non-inductive resistor
50 Watt Dummy Load Kit - $35
Same design as the 25 watt unit, use this if you plan on running the 30 watt unit for an extended period of time with a dummy load.
100 Watt Dummy Load Kit - $50
Same design as the 25 & 50 watt units. Uses 2 film resistors.
1/2 - 1 watt Stereo Broadcast Transmitter - $50
A vast improvement over the Ramsey FM-10. It uses the BA1404 IC as a stereo modulator only to modulate a FET vfo, buffer and amp chain. Better audio input filtering and bypassing. IC voltage regulation for the 2.5 volt supply for the BA1404. A very rugged output stage and collector voltage bypassing make this unit stand out from all other transmitter designs using the BA1404 chip. Requires 12 volts DC
Stereo Generator Only - $30
Actually 1/2 of the above the stereo transmitter, will allow one to broadcast in stereo using the 5 watt transmitter with a very minor modification.
HIGH POWER AMPS - USE WITH CAUTION
75 Watt Amplifier - $165
Requires 28 volts DC (two car batteries in series or 28 volt DC power supply). Point to point surface mount construction. Easy assembly, includes heat sink. Amplifier measures 6 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches. Only 5 watts input power needed to drive to full power.
125 Watt Amplifier - $200
Requires 28 volts DC (two car batteries in series or 28 volt DC power supply). Point to point surface mount construction. Easy assembly, includes heat sink. Amplifier measures 6 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches. Use a power FET RF transistor that requires only 3-5 watts of input power for 125 watts output.
ANTENNA KITS
These are partial kits, just go to your local plumbing supply or hardware store for the copper pipe and/or wire needed for completion. Full construction diagrams and instructions included.
J-Pole - $20
Metal box drilled with SO239 connector, tuning cap and tubing clamps. This one is know as the "electricians special" since it uses mostly electric hardware in its construction. Works very well for urban areas. No soldering of copper pipe required for assembly. Can be adjusted for operation over the entire FM band.
Slim Jim - $15
SO239 connector and clamps. Works very well for urban areas where a powerful horizontal pattern is needed. If used at too great of height, an area surrounding the antenna will be skipped over due to its low angle of radiation. Even at a height of only about 12 feet mounted on a traffic sign pole this antenna was able send a 5 watt signal 2-3 miles. Requires soldering of copper pipe. Can be placed inside a 6" piece of black plastic pipe for concealment. Provides a gain of 2-3.
Dipole - $20
Plastic box, SO239 and clamps. Easy and quick design. Can be concealed by placing inside a 4" piece of black plastic pipe.
5/8 Ground Plane - $30
All necessary parts except copper element and ground radials. This is a great design and works extremely well. It is very portable and will boost the power by a factor of 2 to 4.
POWER SUPPLIES
Unless you are planning on operating from a 12 volt lead acid battery or from the lighter socket in a vehicle you will need an AC operated DC power supply. Wall adapter units can not used. We have the following units available.
2.5 Amp 13.8 V DC power supply - $29
Use this to power either the 1/2 watt transmitter or 5 watt transmitter or the 1/2 watt stereo unit in combination with the 6 watt amplifier.
4.5 Amp 13.8 V DC power - $39
Use this to power the stereo transmitter in combination with the 15 watt amplifier.
12 Amp 13.8 V DC power supply - $65
Use this to power the 5 watt transmitter in combination with the 30 watt amplifier
METERS
Power & SWR Meters
These are essential to the proper tuning and setting up of both transmitters and antennas. An antenna has to be fine tuned so that it accepts the full power of the transmitter and reflects the lowest amount possible back, that ratio of forward power to reflected power is know as the standing wave ratio (SWR). The various stages of both transmitters and amplifiers have adjustable capacitors which are used to tune the unit to the frequency of operation. A power meter allows you to see the effect of these adjustments on the power level and to set everything at an optimum level.
Economy Power/SWR meter - $35
A compact in-line unit that works up to a frequency range of 150 MHz.
High Quality Daiwa Meter - $100
A dual cross needle meter that shows both forward and reflected power on the same meter face. Makes tuning up very easy, no need to switch back and forth between these two functions. Compact design with 12 volt connection for lighting the meter face.
FREQUENCY COUNTER
To accurately maintain your operating frequency a digital frequency counter is highly recommended. A digital tuner with signal strength indication can be used as a substitute. We have a frequency counter available for $80.00
COAXIAL CABLES
A coaxial cable is a special type of wiring that has an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating plastic sheath which is covered by a braid of copper wire that is then covered by a plastic jacket. The 75 ohm video cable used in home TV applications is one type of coaxial cable. For most RF purposes, 50 ohm cable is used. Quite a number of 50 ohm coaxial cables are available ranging from the rather small to cables over 1" in diameter. Regardless of the type, all such cables exhibit a loss that increases with frequency of operation and the length of the cable. For most purposes we will concern ourselves with RG8 and RG8x (mini version of RG8). In very short runs RG58 can be used, but we prefer RG8x due to its lower loss and ability to stand a bit more abuse. RG8 has the lowest loss of the group. Under no circumstances should the cables be twisted, kinked or crushed, this will cause major problems. We supply both RG8X and RG8 in the following lengths. Each end is terminated with a PL259 plug.
RG8X: 25 feet - $15, 50 feet - $25, 75 feet- $35, 100 feet - $40
RG8: 50 feet - $32, 75 feet - $42, 100 feet - $52
ENCLOSURES
4 x 6 aluminum chassis punched and drilled for 5 watt xmtr, 15 watt amplifier or 30 watt amplifier - $18
7 x 7 aluminum chassis punched and drilled for 1/2 watt stereo xmtr or 5 & 30 combo. - $25
VARIOUS & SUNDRY ITEMS
Tweak stick - $2.50
Essential to tuning transmitters and amplifiers. Non-conductive body with tiny metal blade at end. In tuning these transmitters and amplifiers a metal screwdriver will cause false tuning to happen due to the interactive effects of the metal with the circuit. A plastic TV tuning tool kit can be found at Radio Shack as well.
NEW ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED BY JUNE-JULY
Phase Lock Loop Controller for 1/2 watt stereo transmitter and 5 watt transmitter
Phase Lock 1 watt exciter/transmitter
Stereo Audio Processor & Mixer
A combined stereo generator, limiter and audio mixer
2-4 Watt AM & SW Transmitter kit with companion 25-50 watt amplifier kit
2-3 watt UHF TV transmitter kit with 15 & 50 watt amplifier kits
If you have any other particular requirements please let us know. Custom design and fabrication services are available including PC layout and production. Full CAD services as well.
Proceeds from the sales of these kits go to the furtherance of micro power broadcasting, bringing a voice of empowerment to every community.
Please add $3.00 for handling and shipping for each kit. $5.00 for the 2.5 & 4.5 amp power supply and $10.00 for the 12 amp power supply. Add $2.00 for 2nd day mail service for each kit.
Payment to be made out to Free Radio Berkeley
Free Radio Berkeley
1442 A Walnut St., #406
Berkeley, CA 94709
Voice mail: (510) 464-3041
Net mail: frbspd@crl.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our designs are not static, we are always trying to improve performance and stability. In that vein, we have made some improvements to the 5 watt transmitter design. It is a rather simple modification. A ferrite bead is slipped over the base end lead of the 1K resistor (R11) from Q2 (2n4427) to ground and similarly a ferrite bead is slipped over the base end lead of the 56 ohm resistor (R13) from Q3 (2SC1971) to ground. A third ferrite bead is slipped over the 12 volt end of the 100 ohm resistor (R12) connected between 12 volts and the zener diode. Finally, C12's trace lead to the coil L5 is cut and is jumpered to the RF out pad. Send us $1.00 along with a SASE and we will mail you the ferrite beads and complete instructions on how to make these modifications. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reversing the voltage leads is all too easy to do, most of us have done it at least once with the result being several fried transistors. With RF power transistors costing $5-$150 it can be a rather expensive mistake. One simple way to protect your units from this possibility is to put in voltage polarity reversal protection circuit, see diagram below. It works on the principle that a diode only lets current flow in one direction. With correct voltage polarities the diode does not conduct the positive voltage to ground. However, if the ground lead is hooked to the posivitve voltage jack of the unit and and the positive lead is hooked to negative jack of the unit, the diode immeadiately conducts the voltage to ground creating a short which blows the fuse thereby protecting the transmitter from harm. We are offering this protection set up as a kit for $4.00 ( + $2.00 P & H), it includes 2 fuses, a fuse holder and a diode along with full instructions. These parts are also available at most elecronics stores.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Produced by the Committee on Democratic Communications -- A National Committee of the National Lawyers Guild
Address: Committee on Democratic Communications, One Sansome St., Ste. 900, San Francisco, CA, 94104, (415) 705-6464.
NOTE: The following discussion assumes that you are not a licensed broadcaster.
Q) If FCC agents knock on my door and say they want to talk with me, do I have to answer their questions?
A: No. You have a right to say that you want a lawyer present when and if you speak with them, and that if they will give you their names, you will be back in touch with them. Unless you have been licensed to broadcast, the FCC has no right to "inspect" your home.
Q) If they say they have a right to enter my house without a warrant to see if I have broadcasting equipment, do I have to let them in?
A: No. Under Section 303(n) of Title 47 U.S.C., the FCC has a right to inspect any transmitting devices that must be licensed under the Act. Nonetheless, they must have permission to enter your home, or some other basis for entering beyond their mere supervisorial powers. With proper notice, they do have a right to inspect your communications devices. If they have given you notice of a pending investigation, contact a lawyer immediately.
Q) If they have evidence that I am "illegally" broadcasting from my home, can they enter anyway, even without a warrant or without my permission?
A: They will have to go to court to obtain a warrant to enter your home. But, if they have probable cause to believe you are currently engaging in illegal activities of any sort, they, with the assistance of the local police, can enter your home without a warrant to prevent those activities from continuing. Basically, they need either a warrant, or probable cause to believe a crime is going on at the time they are entering your home.
Q) If I do not cooperate with their investigation, and they threaten to arrest me, or have me arrested, should I cooperate with them?
A: If they have a legal basis for arresting you, it is very likely that they will prosecute you regardless of what you say. Therefore, what you say will only assist them in making a stronger case against you. Do not speak to them without a lawyer there.
Q) If they have an arrest or a search warrant, should I let them in my house?
A: Yes. Give them your name and address, and tell them that you want to have your lawyer contacted immediately before you answer any more questions. If you are arrested, you have a right to make several telephone calls within 3 hours of booking.
Q) Other than an FCC fine for engaging in illegal transmissions, what other risks do I take in engaging in micro-radio broadcasts.
A: Section 501 of the Act provides that violations of the Act can result in the imposition of a $10,000 fine or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both. A second conviction results in a potentially longer sentence. If you are prosecuted under this section of the Act, and you are indigent (unable to hire an attorney), the court will have to appoint one for you.
Q) Are there any other penalties that can be imposed upon me for "illegal broadcasts."
A: Under Section 510 of the Act, the FCC can attempt to have your communicating equipment seized and forfeited for violation of the requirements set forth in the Act. Once again, if they attempt to do this, you will be given notice of action against you, and have an opportunity to appear in court to fight the FCC's proposed action. Realize, though, that they will try to keep your equipment and any other property they can justify retaining until the proceedings are completed. You have a right to seek return of your property from the court at any time.
Q) If the FCC agents ask me if I knew I was engaged in illegal activities, should I deny any knowledge of FCC laws or any illegal activities?
A: No. You will have plenty of time to answer their accusations after you have spoken with an attorney. It is a separate crime to lie to law enforcement officials about material facts. Remain silent.
Q) If I am considering broadcasting over micro-radio, is there anything I can do ahead of time to minimize the liklihood of prosecution?
A: Yes. Speak with an attorney before you are approached by law enforcement to discuss the different aspects of FCC law. Arrange ahead of time for someone to represent you when and if the situation arises, so that you will already have prepared a strategy of defense.
Q) What can I do if the FCC agents try to harass me by going to my landlord, or some other source to apply pressure on me?
A: So long as there is no proof that you have violated the law, you cannot be prosecuted or evicted. If there is evidence of misconduct, you might have to defend yourself in court. Depending upon what the FCC said or did, you might be able to raise a defense involving selective prosecution or other equivalent argument. If the conduct of the agents is clearly harassment, rather than a proper investigation, you can file a complaint with the F.C.C. or possibly a civil action against them.
Q) If I want to legally pursue FCC licensing for a new FM station, what should I do?
A: It isn't the purpose of this Q and A sheet to advocate or discourage non-licensed broadcast operations. A person cited by the FCC for illegal broadcasting will find it virtually impossible to later obtain permission to get a license. If you want to pursue the licensing procedure, see the procedures set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Part 73. The application form (Form # 301 A) is extremely complicated, and requires a filing fee of $2,030.00. If you want to contact the FCC directly, call them at their Consumer Assistance and Small Business Division, Room 254, 1919 N St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20554, tel (202) 632-7260. Don't bother to try this without significant financial backing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As both a bit of fundraiser and an attempt to put more dissident voices on the air, we are selling CD's of these and other performers. Thanks to the PMRC and other "decent christian citizens" many of you might not be able to obtain these recordings at your local record store. If you are familiar with Mordam Records, we have their entire line available, they feature hard core, grunge etc. on such labels as Allied Recordings, Alternative Tentacles, Flipside, Lookout, Seeland, Vinyl Communications and more. A complete listing will be available soon, please send a SASE for this.
Dead Kennedys - In God We Trust Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables Plastic Surgery Diasters Frankenchrist Bedtime for Democracy Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death Jello Biafra - No More Cocoons - double CD High Priest of Harmful Matter - double CD I Blow Minds for a Living - double CD Virus 100 - A Cover Release of Dead Kennedys songs with Didjits L7, Disposable Heros and more, 16 in all Jellof Biafra & - Prairie Home Invasion Mojo Nixon Chill EB - Born SuspiciousCost for the CD's is $11, doubles are $13 - add $2 per CD for shipping and handling
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We received this email communication from a person on the net:
TO FRB:
Having nearly completed a million-dollar AM project as technical chief, where many people have put their talents, effort, and money on the line, I cannot begin to tell you how insignificant and worthless this "micro-power" stuff seems. Commitment and dedication is something I routinely see in our local family-owned professional broadcasting organizations--not in a bunch of kids that want to play radio on a whim.
When one of your gang puts seven figures on the line to build a four-tower AM, with the full knowledge that it could all be money down the drain, then you might get my attention. Putting a 10-watt splattermaster on the air is something I did when I was eight years old. Not impressed.
Stephen Dunifer wrote in response ( denoted by >):
> Thank you for the wonderful note, in fact, it was so perfect we
>are going publish in our next newsletter under the headline of "Another
>Argument for Micro Power Broadcasting". Your letter clearly points out
>the prohibitive cost of the current broadcasting situation. Why indeed
>should someone risk millions of dollars and hours upon hours of blood,
>sweat and tears on something that might be down the drain the next
>day when a low power micro operation can be put on the air for less than
>$1000.
I can give you a few reasons. First, the coverage will be such that more than just a few people will be able to hear it. Ten watts of FM from a few feet in the air has a distressingly limited range. Second, this new plant will probably outlive me by decades. People who are in the real business go into these things for the long haul, not the year or maybe two-year attention span of all the "community radio" projects that I have ever seen. (KKUP is an exception--and for some very interesting reasons.) Third, radio is a mass-market, mass-audience medium. It takes a lot of effort and money to produce something that large numbers of people will listen to. Your teapots suffer a double whammy: they are technically limited and the programming is probably a severe tune-out. If activism was something people craved hearing, KPFA would need larger wheelbarrows to carry subscriptions to the bank.
Maybe you can put a micro on the air for $1000, but I'll bet some of my stations' costs per listener are lower.
> I agree that many operations have been using equipment of rather
>dubious quality. We are trying to bring a level of quality to this area
>which has not existed before. As a 42 year old engineer who obtained his
>first class commercial ticket at 17 years of age, has spent over 20 years
>as an analog and digital circuit designer and computer systems
>ntegrator, I am designing circuits that are inexpensive to build and do
>not do the all nasty things associated usually with "garage operations".
Very impressive. And just how many of these dozens or even hundreds of micro operators will have those credentials? How many of them will have the slightest clue concerning modulation levels, spurs, harmonics, frequency stability, or any of the other things that can influence the cacophony of signals in the air?
>Again, I would like to
thank you for your wonderful note and let
>you know we are hard at work
trying to restore democracy and free speech
>to the United Corporate
States of America. Please send us your address
>and you will receive the
next copy of our newsletter with your letter in it.
By all means, send it. I, too, had the answers to all the world's problems before I was 21. I, too, had the transcendental truth that the world needed to hear. But the older I got, the less I seemed to know and my omniscience appears less and less viable. I am older than you, and as a result am, of course, totally senile. By the time I was even your age, I had relinquished my grasp on the sum total of enlightened knowledge and wisdom.
Besides in my day, we activist types got licenses for our stations such as KRAB, KBOO, KTAO and the like. Why do I get the feeling that if the FCC legalized micro that the whole "movement" would die out overnight?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Micropower broadcasters now have the chance to have their programs heard by an international audience via the airwaves of Radio for Peace International, a shortwave station in Costa Rica whose signal is received in more than sixty countries worldwide.
In March RFPI began airing a weekly half hour program entitled "Micro- power Radio in the U.S."
"We originally conceived of it as a sort of 'best-of' program, taking material from different micropower stations from around the country," said Richard Edmondson, of San Francisco Liberation Radio, the show's producer. "The only requirement we had was that the station had to be unlicensed by the FCC."
So far the program has featured broadcast excerpts from Free Radio Berkeley, Anarchy Radio, Radio Free Detroit, and San Francisco Liberation Radio.
"We are constantly in search of new material and would encourage micropower broadcasters from around the U.S. to send us tapes of their best shows," Edmondson said.
He added that RFPI's range was illustrated recently by correspondence received by a listener in Japan.
"We got a letter from a guy in Japan who not only wrote to say he had heard our program, but actually sent us a tape showing us what it sounded like on an actual short wave set in Japan--very scratchy but you could definately tell it was us."
Within the last week several more reponses have been received from listners in the United States. Tune your shortwave receiver to 15.03 (24hrs.), 7.375 (0000-1200), 7.385 USB (0000-1400), 21.465 USB (1200-0400). Saturdays at 2300 hours UTC is the slot for the Micropower show and the Food Not Bombs Radio Network.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpts from a speech given at Harvard University
. . . "plutocratic power" . . . is really the singular index of what has been going on, decade after decade, in this country.
. . . those people who have civic power accorded them--freedom to vote, freedom to speech--if they do not *use* the authority that they are empowered to use in a constant, daily, diverse manner, power tends to concentrate itself and before you know it, you have a plutocracy that uses the symbols of government, and the symbols of democracy, to regale itself and to achieve legitimacy.
Now, the avaricious triumph and spreading tragedy of corporatism *should* be the singular, most important issue in the presidential campaign
When we're talking about plutocracy, what are we talking about? Here's an example of plutocracy: corporate socialism. That is, corporations who get in trouble if they're important enough or big enough, do not go bankrupt, they go to Washington. They are then subject to a process known as corporate welfare--entitlements--where their bankruptcy, mismanagement, speculation or corporate crime generates losses which are socialized on the backs of the taxpayer.
This corporate socialism and corporate welfare is booming. In fact most of what Washington does is conduct a bazaar of "Accounts Receivables" for corporate requestors. There are dozens and dozens of corporate welfare projects that we can conveniently call "aid to dependent corporations." Now look what this does.
First of all it reduces corporations incentive to work, productively. Because they know they're going to be bailed out. They know that there are a certain number of banks in this country which are too big to fail and the federal reserve had them on the list: Citicorp, Bank of America, Chase Manhattan, Morgan Guarantee, Chemical, etc. In other words, they were too critical to avoiding a domino affect and they would be bailed out. . . .
I mentioned plutocratic power versus democratic power . . . plutocratic power exercises its will on us everyday. . . .
The plutocracy takes control of what we own. This must be a hot topic and the Kennedy school. Look at what we own: we own, as a commonwealth, the public airwaves, the public lands, three trillion dollars of public and private pension money, a trillion dollars of savings, a half a trillion dollars at least of mutual insurance monies--all these we technically, legally own. Some as a commonwealth, some as *pooled* assets. Can you imagine how our political economy would be different, how our standards of living would be different, if we *controlled* what we legally owned? And that is *never* discussed in any political campaign that I have been aware of in the last several decades. Can you imagine anything more fundamental to discuss than the incidence of popular and commonwealth ownership of assets?
Here's how it goes: we grow up corporate. By growing up corporate, we never even *think* of what we own. We never even *think* of what is the commonwealth. We are told to "go for it" individually and make a pile of money. And because we're growing up corporate, our minds are anesthetized so they can be controlled by the corporate ethos. Such a thesis is so easily proven that it's not worth spending much time on other than to give one example: who is raising our children today? Ask parents who's raising the children. Children are raised by those environments in which they spend most of their time.
Children today spend less time with adults, including their parents, than any children in *history*. They are spending, pre- teen, thirty-five hours a week on the average, watching TV, video games, and in between, walkman audios. So for thirty-five hours a week they are Pavlovian specimens. They are not engaging in human conversation. They are not interacting with their their siblings and their parents, except modest squabbles during ad time perhaps. They are watching programs that convey basically three themes relentlessly. Look at Saturday and Sunday morning TV if you doubt that.
Now when you grow up corporate like that do you develop a critical mind? Do you develop a civic spirit? Do you understand what community is? Do you ever thirst for *feedback*? For talking *back* to the TV set, in front of you. Never occurs to people to even ask for an electronic Letters-to-the-Editor time on TV.
And what is TV? It's ninety percent entertainment--including ads--, ten percent redundant news, zero percent mobilization. But it is our property. We own the public airwaves. That's federal law, approved by the Supreme Court of the United States. We are the owners, we are the landlords. The Federal Communications Commission is our real estate agent. It licenses portions of the spectrum to corporate broadcasting TV and radio stations--they are the tenants. They pay nothing for the rent of a TV station.
Some of the greatest fortunes in American history have been made by television and other electronic communication company executives- -tens of millions of dollars--using public property free of charge. The tenant pays the landlord nothing, decides who says what on radio and TV, and laughs all the way to the bank, and because we grow up corporate, we don't even *think* of challenging it because we never *heard* of it. We never reflected on it. Our courses never *talked* about it. We never majored in it. And therefore, we're anesthetized. It's a controlling process.
The challenge in our country, in getting democracy upgraded to override plutocracy, is not the challenge that is contained in Orwell's "1984," it's the challenge that is contained in Huxley's "Brave New World."
To give you an illustration. Two hundred years ago we got free speech--first amendment--ratified. That meant that a big merchant in Boston and a worker in Boston could get up on a soapbox on the Boston Commons and tell it the way it is. Who could hear? As many people as wanted to congregate, and as powerful as the speaker's voice could be. Two hundred years later, a worker can get up on the soapbox in the Boston Commons and say his or her pitch. But the big merchant can buy television time and reach millions of people. There is a decibel level quality to the exercise of our first amendment rights due to new technology.
What is the tool? The tool is to recognize that we own the public airwaves. We're entitled to have our own network, let's call it the audience network. It could be chartered for legal purposes as a non-profit federal corporation (chartered by Congress the way the Red Cross and the Salvation Army is). It would be a private-sector corporation, chartered by Congress, open to any viewers and listeners, and the asset which would be returned to it would be one- hour of prime time TV and drive-time radio. Therefore we will become part of a communications commonwealth that will let us develop our electronic literacy, and let us put on television what we want to put on through a deliberative process that reflects great diversity among its membership, which is voluntary, from entertainment to politics to science to mobilization of the community. Doesn't cost the taxpayer a cent, voluntary to the viewers and listeners, and it's our property being returned.
Now if we had that, and if we had a cable viewer's group--because cable is a monopoly and there's a reciprocity that should be accorded monopolies, and one of them should be the presentation of the cable viewer's address and telephone number and description at least ten times a day on all cable channels so the cable viewers can voluntarily band together and organize and have their own staff and begin feeding back the kind of programming they want.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a ship full of dreams. Dreams of broadcasting on international shortwave. Dreams of sending hopeful messages from many people transmitted over the air.
The Voyager Broadcast project was the hope and dream of many. Financed by a man of God, Brother Stair of the Overcomer Ministry, the station was to be an outlet for religious programming and the right of free speech.
The Voyager ship was a converted fishing trawler 140 feet long by 30 feet wide. She was planned to be fitted out with four shortwave transmitters, and was in the process of repair and restoration in Charleston harbor South Carolina.
The ship was to set sail in early February for southern waters where she was to broadcast from a safe anchorage in Belize territory. (The Country of Belize is located on the Yucatan peninsula in central america about 600 miles south of the United States.) It was not to be so. On January 19, 1994 at 8:30 AM EST, The Federal Communications Commission aided by U.S. Federal marshals and the U.S. Coast Guard, sized the M.V. FURY and almost immediately began to debowel her of all her radio equipment.
One day later it was all gone. Transmitters, tubes, parts, test equipment, personal stereos, transformers, cable, insulators, tape recorders, CD's, antennas, towers, cassette machines, all the stuff that make up a radio station--gone! No arrests, no hearings, nothing! The reason? The FCC claims to have identified transmissions from 12:10 AM EST to 3:21 AM EST on January 14, 1994 which they claim were pinpointed to the location of the ship. I was on board the vessel at the time an I observed no such transmissions between those times and none were technically possible with the existing equipment.
I built the radio station on board the FURY for the Overcomer Ministry. As the engineer, I advised the owners of the ship to secure all legal registry and ships radio licenses. This was done; I insured everything was to be done by the book. The FURY was issued a ship registration and radio station license that would make it entirely legal to broadcast once the vessel arrived in Belize territory.
At Charleston harbor no broadcasts came out of the FURY while I was on duty. In fact only two of her four transmitters were partially restored. Of these two only one could be applied primary filiment power. None of the transmitters were ready to broadcast--period! Furthermore there was no available source of transmitter power.
Both transmitter generators were down for final installation and repairs. The main generator was inoperative due to a fuel leak and the backup generator had a burned out regulator.
So the question remains, why was an entirely legal radio station destroyed without a hearing and due process? What is going on here? Does the FCC possess such fear that they will disregard all assemblage of personal rights, international law, and due process?
As a radio engineer it pains me to see such wanton destruction of personal property for no reason. The Overcomer Ministry had invested large sums of money and time to make this floating radio ship of GOD and freedom a reality. All to be destroyed because someone in Washington D.C. apparently doesn't like Brother Stair or me.
Dear reader, I think now is the time to take a "hard look" at the Federal Communications Commission and their policies of total disregard of law and due process; especially the so called seizure laws in which they legally "steal" personal property.
Is this a nation of laws or government brytes? I thought a fair hearing and trial is guaranteed all.
The ship owners plan to seek restitution from the government. Many questions remain.
A radio station, a printing press of the air, has been smashed. Please protest this illegal action by the FCC to your Congressperson. Only Congress can stop the madness.
Allan H. Weiner
(sig)
Radio Engineer
507 Violet Avenue
Hyde Park, NY 12538
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF MAY/JUNE NEWSLETTER